The Antiracism Handbook: Practical Tools to Shift Your Mindset and Uproot Racism in Your Life and Community

by Thema Bryant PhD, Edith G. Arrington PhD, Kevin L. Nadal PhD (Foreword by)

Overview

An antiracist society starts with you. Gain the psychological skills you need to adopt an antiracist mindset and make meaningful and equitable changes in your community—and in the world.

Racism has reached epidemic levels in our country, and every single day we see acts of racial injustice. From police brutality and the prison industrial complex, to crumbling infrastructure and toxic drinking water in predominantly Black neighborhoods—many people have finally opened their eyes to the harsh realities of inequality and systemic racism in America. But awareness isn’t enough. We need to take action to create real change.

Written by two psychologists and experts in race, identity, equity, and inclusion, The Antiracism Handbook will empower you to make your own personal contribution to creating an antiracist society. You’ll find practical, evidence-based tools grounded in psychology to help you recognize and resist racial stereotypes in day-to-day interactions; and strategies to help you communicate with family, loved ones, and children about race and racism. You’ll also learn skills to help you navigate race in professional workspaces, and advocate for antiracist politics, policies, and practices in your community, civic, and spiritual life.

By shifting your thought patterns and behaviors to cultivate an antiracist mindset, you can actively change your community—and the world—beginning with yourself. This handbook will help you get started now.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684039104
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	04/01/2022
Series:	The Social Justice Handbook Series
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Thema Bryant, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, ordained minister, and sacred artist who has worked nationally and globally to provide relief and empowerment to marginalized persons. She is a professor at Pepperdine University, and is past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women.


Edith G. Arrington, PhD, is a licensed psychologist whose research, writing, and consulting focus on race, identity, development, and education; equity, diversity, and inclusion; and promoting health and well-being for individuals and communities. She has provided a range of professional services, including evaluation, assessment, and strategic planning to schools, families, community-based organizations, and philanthropic organizations. Arrington earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology from Duke University; her master’s degree in clinical/community psychology from the University of Virginia; and her doctorate in school, community, and clinical child psychology from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.


Kevin L. Nadal, PhD, is professor of psychology at both John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the Graduate Center at the City University of New York. He received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University. Nadal’s research focuses on the impacts of microaggressions on the mental and physical health of marginalized groups.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Introduction: Beginning Our Work Together to Cultivate Antiracism 1

Part 1 Laying the Foundation for Antiracism

Chapter 1 Reflecting on Race and Racism as the First Steps to Antiracism 11

Chapter 2 Educating Yourself-Taking Responsibility 23

Chapter 3 What's Power (And Privilege) Got to Do With It? 31

Part 2 Addressing Barriers, Shifting Perspectives, and -Liberating Our Minds

Chapter 4 "I Just Can't Think about It": Overcoming Avoidance 39

Chapter 5 Freeing Our Minds from Being Stuck in Guilt 59

Chapter 6 Challenging Victim-Blaming and Respectability Politics: Moving Past Stereotypes and Biases 77

Chapter 7 Confronting Fear: Just Do It 85

Part 3 Taking Action to Cultivate an Antiracist Life

Chapter 8 Navigating People, Places, and Spaces from an Antiracist Perspective 107

Chapter 9 Changing Our Communities through Antiracist Practices and Policies 117

Chapter 10 Antiracism Parenting: Cultivating Courage and a Love for Justice 125

Chapter 11 Faith Works: Cultivating Antiracism in Sacred Spaces 139

Part 4 Refilling Your Well: Being Antiracist Is a Long-Term Commitment

Chapter 12 Sustainability: The Marathon Continues 155

References 171

Interviews

Bryant resides in Canoga Park, CA (Greater Los Angeles Area); Arrington resides in Philadelphia, PA.

Editorial Reviews

Thema Bryant and Edith Arrington bring wisdom, compassion, and extensive knowledge to this excellent handbook. The reflection exercises, mindfulness moments, practical recommendations, and selection of topics are powerful offerings for both white and BIPOC readers to participate meaningfully in the work of antiracism. They accompany you with a presence of deep care and inspired commitment to healing the individual and collective damage of systemic racism. Prepare to be transformed!”
—Shelly P. Harrell, PhD, professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, developer of the Racism and Life Experience Scales, and founder/director of The Soulfulness Center

Shelly P. Harrell

Wherever you are in your journey of learning about and challenging racism in your life, The Antiracism Handbook will help you move ahead with clarity, courage, and compassion for yourself and your fellow travelers. Grounded in psychological research and informed by practitioners’ experience, it is a much-needed resource for anyone—White or BIPOC—who wants to become more effective in interrupting the cycle of racism. Use it yourself and share it with others!”
—Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

Beverly Daniel Tatum

A must-read for mental health professionals, this cutting-edge masterwork from two acclaimed therapist/scholars pairs clinical strategies with targeted exercises to provide current navigation of the challenges in becoming an effective antiracist advocate. Thema Bryant and Edith Arrington demonstrate that cultivating antiracism is a significant step in the creation of a just and equitable society—and show you how. I highly recommend this excellent handbook!”
—Lillian Comas-Díaz, PhD, clinical professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at George Washington University, and author of Multicultural Care

Lillian Comas-Díaz

The Antiracism Handbook is an extraordinarily comprehensive guide for addressing racial inequity. Thema Bryant and Edith Arrington demystify antiracism and expose pervasive barriers to antiracism work while equipping the reader with mindset-shifting activities and behavioral strategies. The book simultaneously challenges and inspires the reader to action. It is a must-read for anyone who is ready to integrate allyship into daily practice, and also for individuals who need respite from unaddressed racism-related fatigue.”
—Rheeda Walker, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Houston, licensed psychologist, and author of The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health

Rheeda Walker

The Antiracism Handbook is an urgent invitation to confront the truth about race and racism, and build the capabilities needed to do the work of racial justice in our lives and society. Drawing from resources in mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—as well as liberatory, decolonial, and community psychology—the authors expertly guide readers through a curriculum that requires active participation: rigorous self-examination, truth-telling, deep learning and unlearning, identifying barriers, and skill building. Eradicating racism will take all of us. Practitioners everywhere should read this book, which is sure to become required reading in the years ahead.”
—Tabatha L. Jones Jolivet, PhD, associate professor of higher education at Azusa Pacific University, community organizer, and coauthor of White Jesus

Tabatha L. Jones Jolivet